OK what am I missing? This is a Delco Remy distributor on a 1956 261 in a 2 ton 6100. How do you get this apart or at least to tighten on the points and condensor connections? When I go the tighten the nut on the outside of the distributor the inside head spins and pushes the connections off.
I figured I would need a special tool but thought I would ask anyway . I don't have a pic of the side but it does have a split nut on the outside captured in the insulator. I guess I'll have to sacrifice an out screw driver. Thanks for the info, I couldn't fins that yesterday when I was searching.
Check Ebay. There are usually several of the dedicated tools for that job available. Some of them also have the 11/32" nut driver to fit the outer nut built into the opposite end of the handle. I've owned several of those tools over the years.
Edit: There's one of those tools on Ebay today, but they're asking $25.00 for it. A simple work-around is to take a short piece of 1/4" steel tubing and file or grind the end to form a pair of tangs that engage the spanner nut. Drill the other end for a handle made from a short piece of steel round stock. Jerry
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If you look inside the insulator, you will see a ring slot nut. Uses a special tool, has ring slot nut driver on one end, regular nut driver on the other. Couple of photos of some of the tools that were sold. They turn up on eBay regularly enough that you should have no problem finding one. or you can make one out of a short wide blade screwdriver by cutting a slot in the middle to clear the stud and engage the slots on either side.
So when changing the points, you take the nut, wire and small wire shield off, then loosen the ring nut, remove the points, install the new points and condenser wire, tighten the ring slot nut, the install the rest of the hardware and coil wire.
A cheap set of snap ring pliers with right angle tips would work for that nut as well. NAPA Link
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Thanks for all the responses. I did end up getting it off. Used a pair of needle nose vise grips to hold the bolt from spinning and then used a pair of snap ring pliers to remove the split nut. As it turns out the little plastic haunch on the inside of the insulator was broke off which let the bolt spin when trying to undo the split nut. I went and bought the replacement insulator from Steiner on my lunch break.
